Clayton Moore:
Tribute to a Good Man

    The world paused the day Clayton Moore died, just two days before the beginning of the year 2000 was upon us.  For with the passing of Clayton Moore -- "The Lone Ranger" -- and the tributes that followed, all baby boomers and anyone who ever saw a Lone Ranger TV show or movie were in for a reality check.  Where has our society gone and how did we get here since the sound of "A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust and a hearty 'Hi Yo Silver!'"?

     Clayton Moore portrayed The Lone Ranger beginning in 1949, and for 50 years, "the masked man" showed us the right and moral way to lead our lives and how to treat our fellow man.  Born Jack Carlton Moore on September 14, 1914, the son of a real estate broker in Chicago, he was brought up with a strong mid-western foundation of decency and morality.  As a child he enjoyed going to the movies and was thrilled by the adventures of his favorite cowboy actors, Tom Mix, Ken Maynard, George O'Brien, William S. Hart and Harry Carey, Sr.  The young lad dreamed of being a policeman and a cowboy when he grew up.  His dream would come true.

    Moore started performing in the early 1930s as a trapeze artist in a traveling circus act.  After performing at the 1934 World's Fair in Chicago, his trapeze days ended when a fall during rehearsal injured his knee.  It was time for the ruggedly handsome athlete to move on and.................................................